Police Reports

A Storm Lake 17-year-old was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail Tuesday for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old last month.

The Storm Lake Police Department Friday received a report in reference to a sexual assault that occurred last month.

Police learned a 13-year-old male victim, was allegedly sexually assaulted by a person identified as a 16-year-old male of Storm Lake at a residence in the 1700 block of Rose Lane. The incident occurred between 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. on Jan. 7.

Police interviewed a series of individuals in connection with the investigation.

At 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, the SLPD arrested the suspect, who is now 17-years-old, and charged him with third-degree sexual abuse, a forcible felony. The 17-year-old male of Storm Lake was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

At 11 p.m. Wednesday, an officer on patrol observed a young child walking alone in the 400 block of East Fourth Street.

Police made contact with the six-year-old child and learned he was left unattended for ten or more minutes at 319 E. Fourth St. #6. The child reportedly left the residence and was walking on Fourth Street in search of his mother.

Police located the mother, identified as 42-year-old Merleen David, at a gathering at 509 Oneida St. and took her into custody.

David was charged with child endangerment and booked into the Buena Vista County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

The child, who was unharmed, was left in the custody of family members and a report was filed with the Iowa Department of Human Services.

OWI (meth suspected)

Police arrested a Laurens man Thursday for driving while under the influence of drugs and having drug paraphernalia.

At 1 a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to the alley in the 700 block of Superior Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

Witnesses told police the vehicle pulled into the alley and parked in a suspicious manner. Police made contact with 37-year-old Justin Howard at the scene.

Police learned Howard had a revoked driver’s license and determined he was under the influence of a controlled substance. Police seized drug paraphernalia from Howard’s vehicle used to smoke methamphetamine.

Howard was charged with OWI third offense, driving while revoked and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail on a $5,000 bond.